Preventative Gun Safety Device

ABSTRACT

Preventative gun safety devices and methods for their use are provided. These devices are useful for providing visual recognition and warning of a loaded gun, thereby reducing the potential for an accidental discharge of a loaded gun. Generally, the present invention is a device that is non-permanently attached to any gun and is comprised of a rectangular strip, thermoplastic strap-like member and generally using a hook and loop type tape to adhere to itself by wrapping circularly around itself to attach to the barrel or any part of any gun. A rectangular nylon pull tab is sewn permanently to one end of the strip with cautionary wording and symbols sewn or stamped onto it to identify the purpose of the device and to convey proper warning.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is entitled to the benefit or Provisional Patent Application No. 62/126,586, filed Feb. 28, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention pertains to gun safety and gun safety products, more specifically to devices used to create awareness and caution of loaded guns in an effort to prevent accidental shootings.

2. Description of Related Arts and Unrelated Arts

RELATED ARTS

Many products exist that promote gun safety and awareness, especially of unloaded guns. Examples include gun locks, cable locks, trigger locks, and warning flags inserted into empty gun chambers.

Some guns have loaded chamber indicators built onto them that provide visual indication of a bullet currently loaded into the gun's chamber. Most commonly a small red tab that protrudes from the slide when a round is in the chamber. Examples of some these inventions include U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,028,454 (Oct. 4, 2011); 7,305,786 (Dec. 11, 2007); and 7,383,655 (Jun. 10, 2008).

The primary shortcomings of the previous inventions listed are that these inventions only indicate when a bullet is currently chambered in the gun, the indicator is very small and difficult to see, and the indicator may not be clear in its meaning to people inexperienced with guns. The present invention addresses this by providing very clear and obvious visual indication that any gun is or may be loaded, chambered or not.

UNRELATED ARTS

Fastening devices similar to the present invention are well known in unrelated arts including bundling elongate members such as electric wires, cables, tubes, etc., and also to attach, anchor and hold many things together, using hook and loop straps for fastening.

This hook and loop tape is commonly referred to by the trademark VELCRO®, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,438 (Mar. 12, 1968).

Other examples of reusable bundling devices ate found in unrelated arts. Such devices generally employ VELCRO®. Examples of such devices are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,432 (Apr. 25, 1986); 4,114,838 (Sep. 19, 1978); 4,096,863 (Jun. 27, 1978); 4,088,136 (May 9, 1978); 3,994,048 (Nov. 30, 1976); 3,942,636 (Mar. 9, 1976); 3,731,348 (May 8, 1973); and 3,279,008 (Oct. 18, 1966).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a gun safety device that is non-permanently attached to any gun. Its purpose is to provide instant visual recognition that a gun is loaded, thereby reducing the potential for an accidental discharge of a loaded gun that may cause damage, bodily injury, or death.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

It is therefore one object of the present invention to be attached directly to any part of any gun.

It is another object of the present invention to provide instant visual recognition of a loaded gun.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for alerting and warning people of potentially loaded guns.

It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to prevent accidental shootings of loaded guns.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention secured to the barrel of a gun.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are perspective views of the alternative embodiments of the present invention described in the following section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preferred Embodiments

The features of the preferred embodiment regarding the present invention are fully depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a non-permanently, self-adhering, rectangular, thermoplastic flexible strap member 1 utilizing hook 2 and loop 3 technology to attach to the barrel of any gun by wrapping circularly around itself with the hook side attaching to the loop side of the strap.

It is further a preferred embodiment of the present invention to have a rectangular nylon pull tab 4 sewn 5 permanently to the end of the strap 1 to be used by pulling on said pull tab 4 to unwrap the device for removal from the gun.

It is further a preferred embodiment of the present invention to have sewn or stamped onto the pull tab 4 cautionary wording and symbols to convey proper warning and to indicate the purpose of the device.

It is further a preferred embodiment of the present invention to be made using bright, cautionary colors including yellow and black.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the subject invention and is depicted in a secured state, non-permanently attached to the barrel of a gun.

Variations of the Preferred Embodiment

Variations of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that could be applied to the preferred embodiment include, but are not limited to, different fastening methods, materials, colors, shapes, wording, printing, or symbols.

Another variation of the preferred embodiment is that it could be wrapped around any part of any gun, not limited to the barrel exclusively.

Alternatives

Alternatives to the preferred embodiment are as follows their features are depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 and described in the following paragraphs.

One alternative of the present invention is a device 6 that may be attached directly to, stuck onto, or adhered magnetically to any part of a gun. This alternative could be made from any material, in any color, with any wording or symbols.

Another alternative of the present invention is a device 7 that may be inserted directly into the barrel or chamber of a gun with a portion of the device protruding from or extending out of the gun, and using friction or any other means to hold it in place. This alternative could be made from any material, in any color, with any wording or symbols.

Another alternative of the present invention is a device 8 that hangs or dangles from any part of a gun using a chain, string, key chain style mechanism, or any other means of hanging from a gun. This alternative could be made from any material, in any color, with any wording or symbols.

Another alternative of the present invention is a sleeve-like device 9 that may be slipped over or completely encasing a gun barrel, gun handle, or an entire gun. This alternative could be made from any material, in any color, with any wording or symbols.

A variation of the listed alternatives that is not depicted in the illustrations is any variation of the above mentioned alternatives using lights or sounds or a combination of both to provide additional warning and caution. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A detachable fastening device comprising: a flexible strap member having first and second end portions; means for attaching the first end portion of the strap member to the second portion of the strap member.
 2. A detachable fastening device according to claim 1, wherein a pull tab is permanently attached to one end of the end portions of the strap.
 3. A detachable fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the pull tab has means for identifying the flexible strap member. 